Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes: Volume 15 Issue 2

Themed editorial: What are the growth drivers and challenges for tourism in the Middle East?

Richard E. Teare

What are tourism’s growth drivers and challenges in the Middle East?

Mohit Vij, Sanjay Nadkarni

Tourism in the Middle East is distinct and diverse, as are its associated challenges. The purpose of this paper is to examine the various opportunities and constraints facing the…

Tourism policy and United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16: peace and stability in the Middle East and North Africa

Ahmad Anouti, Samantha Chaperon, James Kennell

This article explores the ways in which the relationship between tourism, sustainable development and peace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is presented in national…

Exploring the tourism development strategies of Gulf Cooperation Council countries: commonalities, contrasts and clusters

Ashraf A. Mahate, Sanjai K. Parahoo

This study aims to examine the commonalities and contrasts in the tourism objectives and strategies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, thereby revealing the…

Understanding barriers to inbound medical tourism in the United Arab Emirates from a provider's perspective

Vinaytosh Mishra, Sudhir Rana

The purpose of the study is to identify the important barriers to the development of medical tourism in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Further, it aims to establish a…

Local tourists' perceptions of tourist destinations' competitiveness: a comparative study of the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Oman

Mohamed Abou-Shouk, Nagoua Zoair, Ahmed Mohamed Elbaz, Marwa Abdel-Jalil

Destination competitiveness is a significant contributor to tourism growth, performance and development. The current research intends to test the effect of the dimensions of the…

Exploring the challenges for medical tourism in the United Arab Emirates during the Covid-19 pandemic era: a stakeholder perspective

Ahmad A. Okasha, Farooq Haq, Anita Medhekar, Naveed Yasin

This paper explores medical tourism development challenges in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) pre- and during Covid-19. Medical tourism is becoming a dynamic, rapid growth area and…

Marketing strategies for the tourism industry in the United Arab Emirates after the COVID-19 era

Usha Seshadri, Pranav Kumar, Anu Vij, Tabani Ndlovu

This paper reviews the challenging trends in the tourism sector of the UAE brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. In so doing, it highlights a radical shift in the consumption of…

The role of artificial intelligence and blockchain technologies in sustainable tourism in the Middle East

Mohammad Abul Kashem, Mohammad Shamsuddoha, Tasnuba Nasir, Asma Akter Chowdhury

This paper reviews the role of two significant smart technologies, artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain technology (BT) in achieving sustainable tourism success. Such…

Middle East tourism – Opportunities and solutions

Mohit Vij, Sanjay Nadkarni

This paper aims to review the contribution made by the theme issue to the body of knowledge on tourism growth drivers and challenges in the Middle East and the subsequent impact…

Reflections on the theme issue outcomes: what are the growth drivers for tourism in the Middle East?

Richard E. Teare